Scientists in Northern China have found bacteria living on bat skin and in cave soil that can kill the fungus responsible for white-nose syndrome, a disease devastating bat populations worldwide. These bacteria produce various antifungal compounds including volatile organic compounds that diffuse through the air and damage the fungus’s structure. By analyzing the genetic makeup of these bacteria, researchers identified specific genes responsible for producing these antifungal compounds, offering hope for developing biological control treatments that could protect bats and reduce fungal loads in cave environments.